Questioning the Centrality of Imagination in Designing Futures
While imagination can inspire fresh ideas, overreliance on it runs the risk of prioritizing abstract visions over concrete realities. Practical challenges—such as technological constraints, economic feasibility, and socio-political dynamics—may be overshadowed by idealized scenarios that lack grounding in real-world limitations. This might lead planners to propose futures that are overly optimistic or even impractical, potentially diverting attention from evidence-based solutions. In essence, basing future design primarily on imaginative speculation could skew priorities away from rigorous analysis and actionable strategies needed to navigate complex, existing challenges.